Heat exchanger



March 16, 1965 H. J. BARKLEY 3,173,481

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Sept. 24, 1962 lmmllli IN1/wrom HOWARD BARKLEY A By: MM] @4MM/VJ @QTTORNEY United States Patent O 3,173,481 HEAT EXCHANGER Howard J. Barkley, Racine, Wis., assigner to Modine Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Sept. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 225,561 6 Claims. (Cl. 165-160) This invention relates to a heat exchanger, and more particularly it relates to an exchanger wherein two uids are employed :for operation and both lluids have separate and enclosed passes.

Heat exchangers having two separate and enclosed passes are well known in the art, such that the two fluids in the respective passes are completely contained for circulation through the exchanger. The ethciency of an exchanger of this type is dependent upon the pressure drop of the fluid pressure in the exchanger, and accordingly it is important that the exchanger be built sufficiently sturdy to accommodate a desirable pressure and of course to also securely retain the fluids in their separate passes without leakage or impedance to flow.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a heat exchanger which accommodates a high internal pressure in both the fluids flowing through `the exchanger.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a heat exchanger wherein the core of the exchanger comprising the usual tubes and tins are fxtured and physically size of the core within the limits of tolerance in the manufacture of a core.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a heat exchanger with a core surrounded by a casing in. contact with the core and the entire assembly being arinthe art.

Other objects an-d advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description in light of the: accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a fragment of a heat exchanger incorporating a preferred embodiment of this; invention, and with a part thereof broken away.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the exchanger shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 and with a corner of the View broken away.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a fragment of a fin disposed within the exchanger shown.

FIG. 5 is a top plan View of the tin fragment shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational v-iew of the tin fragment shown in FIG. 4.

This particular heat exchanger has application in theI oil cooler art and it will thus be described in connection with that art. Thus the exchanger is shown to include a plurality of tubes 10 extending through the length of theexchanger in a parallel and spaced-apart relation, and a;

.40 ranged so that the core and casing can be all bonded together in one bonding operation, such as that well known header 11 is disposed at one end of the exchanger and a header 12 at the other end ofthe exchanger. The headers 11 and 12 include end plates 13 which have openings therein of the shape of the tubes shown in FIG. 3 such that the tubes can of course project through the plates 13 and extend therebeyond as show-n in the :dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will therefore be understood that the headers 11 and 12 conduct oil or other fluid into the tubes 10 for the passage between the headers, depending upon the direction of flow of the fluid. This therefore of course makes a fluid-tight and separate pass for the water or other fluid to flow through the exchanger.

Oil or other fluid will also be conducted through the exchanger through a second and separate pass which includes the tanks or headers 14 and 16 having the fittings 17 thereon. Thus it will of course be seen that the oil can pass between the headers 14 and 16 and through the exchanger in the spaces between the tubes 10 and thereby the usual exchange of heat will occur as the lluids move4 through their respective passes in the well-known manner.

The spaces between the tubes 10 are shown to be occupied by tins 18 which are of a serpentine shape and rolled or punched to be of the offset strip form providing for eicient heat exchange between the iins 18 and the tubes 10. Thus FIGS. 1 and 3, for instance, show two rows of iins 18 and an intermediate spacer plate 19 disposed in the space between every two successive tubes 10. Also, a single lin 18 is disposed at the outside surface of the outer tubes 10 as shown on lthe one side in FIGS. l and 3.

The particular conguration of tins shown is of a grid or strip type having two offset strips 21 and 22 which provide an intermediate opening 23 through which fluid can flow, and thus the oil, when used, will flow through the opening 23. With this type of iin 18, the oil can thus flow along the plane of the iin 18 in either transverse direction, and it will of course at least partially flow through the openings 23 to give maximum heat exchange eiciency byyirtue of the turbulence created in the oil. However, the significant feature of the fin is that it is of a type which is firm in the direction toward the tubes 10, and this feature is for a purpose mentioned hereinafter.

FIG. 3 particularly shows a casing 26 extending endlessly around the exchanger core which consists of the tubes 10 and tins 18. Further the casing 26 is shown to be in two parts 27 and 28 and these two parts are joined together at the joint portion designated 29. It will therefore be noted and understood that the inner surface extending endlessly around the casing 26 is in contact with the exchanger core at both the points of contact designated 31 on the tins 18, and also the points of contact designated 32 on the tubes and 33 on the tins 18. Thus the exchanger core presents a rectangular cross-sectional shape and the easing 26 presents a similar shape which is in snug and endless contact with the core.

With the arrangement described, the advantage is that the core can of course be assembled and the casing 26 can be disposed therearound :and lixtured tonto the core by moving the casing parts 27 and 28 toward each other and thus press the sides of the core inwardly and in lirm and snug contact throughout the width of the core, as viewed in FIG. 3. With this snug assembly, the entire exchanger can be placed into a bonding bath for the well-known vibonding Ioperation so that all the points of Contact within the core and between the core and the casing 26 will be bonded together. lt will therefore be seen that the casing 26 provides the means for containing the oil or like iiuid for passage along the iins 18, and also the casing 26 renders the entire assembly sturdy in that it is all an in tegral exchanger with the core bonded both internallyV and to the casing 26 for maximum strength. By virtue of this arrangement, the pressures within the exchanger can be raised to maximum quantities without distorting the exchanger and of course without requiring the wellknown eircularly shaped exchangers employed in, for instance, the toil cooler.

It will therefore be noted that the arrangement is such that the tubes are provided with internal struts 35, and these struts of course provide for strength across the narrow portions of the tubes 10, and also the tubes 10 extend between the top side 34 and the bottom side 36 of the casing 26. Thus the rigid and set dimension of the tube 36 is employed in establishing the core dimen-v sion in the direction just mentioned, and the adjustability of the casing 26 between its sides 37 and 38 accommodate the core tolerance in that direction and also permit the snug lixturing and contacting of the core parts.

The exchanger is thus assembled with tube and fins comprising the core described, and these parts are enclosed Iby the casing 26, which of course has a necessary opening for accommodation of the headers 14 and 16 along `the casing wall 34. Thus the entire assembly is bonded so that all of the parts shown are attached to gether in one unit.

It will therefore be noted that the tubes 10 are hat-tened' in their cross-sectional configuration and the struts ex tend between the flattened sides of the tubes for making; the tubes strong in the direction of the struts or supports 35. Also the ns 18 `are lstrong and resist forces and deiiection so that the entire core is arranged with the tins in abutment with the tiattened sides of the tubes and bonded thereto to render the core unitary in is construction from the casing side 37 to the casing side 38. That is, the flattened tubes with struts 35 'and the tins being bonded to the tubes, all form a strong structure between the sides of the casing so that high internal uid pressures will not bulge the tubes 35 or distort the core.

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart tubes having oppositely disposed open end portions, a header fluid-tightly attached to each of said open end portions for directing fluid through said tubes, a plurality of fins disposed between said tubes and being bonded thereto to form a core with said tubes and vbeing arranged for the ilow of uid over said tins, said tubes and said tins extending to common planes on opposite sides of said core, a casing fluid-tightly disposed in planular contact with both said tubes and said ins on said opposite sides and around the entire :periphery of said core endlessly in the direction transverse to the axes of said tubes and intermediate said headers and being bonded to said core and to said Iheaders for containment of the fluid tiowing over said fins and for strengthening said exchanger, and a uid inlet and a fluid outlet means on said casing for directing uid tlow through said core.

2. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of iiattened tubes disposed parallel land spaced apart and having open end portions, support means disposed within said tubes and connected between the flattened sides thereof for strengthening said tubes, -a header in fluid-flow communication with each of said open end portions, a plurality of tins disposed between said tubes at the attened sides thereof and being bonded thereto to present a unitary structure with said tubes and said support means, said tubes and said fins disposed with the two opposite edges of both being aligned along common planes to present a core with a predetermined rectangular cross-section dened by both said edges and by only said tins on sides of said rectangular cross-section intermediate said common planes, and a case `of said predetermined rectangular vcross-section and two parts disposed entirely between said headers in continuously snug and bonded contact with the rectangular periphery of said core and with said parts being bonded together for confining the iiow of fluid over said tins and being `adjustable along said common planes prior to bonding.

3. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart tubes having oppositely disposed open lend portions, a header huid-tightly attached to each of said open end portions for directing uid through said tubes, a plurality of fins disposed between said tuibes and being bonded thereto to form a core with said tubes and being arranged for the ow of uid over said tins, said tubes and said tins having equal lateral extents and both extending to one common plane on each opposite side of core, only said tins extending along the other opposite sides of said core, a casing disposed in planular contact with and bonded to both said tubes and said fins on the iirst said opposite sides of said core and bonded to said ns on the other said opposite sides of said core and extending around the entire periphery of `said core endlessly in the direction transverse to the axes of said tubes and I) .intermedia-te said headers and being fluid-tightly bonded to said core and to said headers for containment of the fluid tiowing over said iins and for strengthening said exchanger, and a fluid inlet means and a fluid outlet means on said casing for directing tiuid ilow through said core.

4. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of flattened tubes disposed parallel and spaced apart and having open end portions, two spaced-apart headers in fluid-How comfmunication with said open end portions, a plurality of tins disposed between said tubes at the flattened sides thereof and being |bonded thereto, said tubes and said iins disposed to present a core with a rectangular crosssection by said tubes land said tins being coextensive on the first two opposite sides and with said core having only said tins on the other two opposite sides, a rectangular case of two parts disposed entirely in the space between said headers and in endless bonded Contact `along all said sides of said core, said parts being overlapped and movable toward and away from each other and said attened sides along said first two opposite sides prior to bonding .to adjust to said core size at said other two opposite sides :and thereby abut said tins, and header means in fluidiiow communication with said case for directing fluid over said core.

5. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart tubes having liat sides and oppositcly disposed open end portions, a header fluid-tightly attached to each of said open end portions for directing fluid through said tubes, a plurality of tins disposed between said tubes on said flat sides thereof and being bonded thereto to form a core with said tubes and being arranged for the flow of fluid over said ns and with said core being of a predetermined cross-sectional shape, said tubes extending in side limits to one common plane on each of two opposite sides of said cross-sectional shape and with only said fins extending along the other two opposite sides, a casing of said cross-sectional shape and in two halves adjustably nestedV together and in contact with said tubes at said side limits on the tirst said opposite sides and with said casing being in contact with said tins on the other said opposite sides and being duid-tightly disposed in endless contact with the periphery of said core intermediate said headers and being bonded to said core and to said headers for containment of the tiuid owing over said ns and for strengthening said exchanger, and header means in iiuid-iiow communication with said oasing for directing liuid over `said core.

6. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart tubes having two oppositely disposed open end portions, a header fluid-tightly attached to each of said open end portions for directing uiid through said tubes, a plurality of fins disposed between said tubes and being bonded thereto to form a core with said tubes and being arranged for the ow of fluid over said fins, each of said tubes extending completely across said core between the outer limits of two opposite sides of said core and 'with said tubes being elongated in their extents between said opposite sides and being internally strutted for support in the two directions between said tubes, a two-piece casing iluidatightly disposed in endless Contact with the periphery of said core intermediate said headers and being bonded to said core and to said headers for containment of the uid owing over 'said tins and for strengthening said exchanger, the pieces of said 6 in said two directions to adju-st to said core in said two directions between said tubes prior to bonding.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,673,409 6/28 Kelley 165-148 1,830,375 11/31 Shoop 16S-183 2,499,901 3/50 Brown 165-160 2,686,957 8/54 Koerper 16S-152 2,804,284 8/57 Otten 165-160 2,877,000 3/59 Person 16S-159 CHARLES SUKALO, Primary Examiner.

casing being movable toward and away from each other 15 FREDERCK L MATTESON JR ExFlmiW 

1. A HEAT EXCHANGER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL AND SPACED-APART TUBES HAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED OPEN END PORTIONS, A HEADER FLUID-TIGHTLY ATTACHED TO EACH OF SAID OPEN END PORTIONS FOR DIRECTING FLUID THROUGH SAID TUBES, A PLURALITY OF FINS DISPOSD BETWEEN SAID TUBES AND BEING BONDED THERETO TO FORM A CORE WITH SAID TUBES AND BEING ARRANGED FOR THE FLOW OF FLUID OVER SAID FINS, SAID TUBES AND SAID FINS EXTENDING TO COMMON PLANES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CORE, A CASING FLUID-TIGHTLY DISPOSED IN PLANAR CONTACT WITH BOTH SAID TUBES AND SAID FINS ON SAID OPPOSITE SIDES AND AROUND THE ENTIRE PERIPHERY OF SAID CORE ENDLESSLY IN THE DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE AXES OF SAID TUBES AND INTERMEDIATE SAID HEADERS AND BEING BONDED TO SAID CORE AND TO SAID HEADERS FOR CONTAINMENT OF THE FLUID FLOWING OVER SAID FINS AND FOR STRENGTHENING SAID EXCHANGER, AND A FLUID INLET AND A FLUID OUTLET MEANS ON SAID CASING FOR DIRECTING FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID CORE. 